The Future of U.S.-South Asia Relations
Asia Society Washington Center Congressional Forum Series

Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY)

Washington DC, October 7, 2003

I would like to thank you all for coming out this morning and showing your interest in the emerging relationship between the United States and South Asia.

My strong interest in the region is not only because I represent one of the largest populations of South Asians in the United States but also because I see the strategic importance of this region for the United States

I have a strong relationship with two South Asian countries. In particular India and Bangladesh. I am the Chair of the House Caucus on Bangladesh and the Co-Chair of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Through these caucuses and my own initiatives in Congress I have been able to play an active role in influencing the policy of the United States toward these nations and the region as a whole. I believe the United States must stay active in South Asia not only because of the strategic and economic benefits but because we have similar values and the love of freedom and democracy in common.

While South Asia has potential for growth -- the region also has the potential to fall into chaos since it was nuclearized in 1999. The region of Jammu-Kashmir is perhaps the most important challenge to the U.S. interest to promote stability throughout South Asia as a region. The threat of nuclear weapons in South Asia is a concern not just for the region but the world. India has taken a great step by adopting a doctrine that it will not use a first nuclear strike against any country. Unfortunately, Pakistan has done the opposite and said they will not neutralize their nuclear deterrence by any doctrine of no first use.

The terrorist war that Pakistan has allowed and even assists from its territory against India in the region of Jammu-Kashmir threatens the peace of all of South Asia. Terrorism is a threat to all democracies and needs to be stopped so people can have the freedom to live their lives without fear. Since the Pakistani based terrorists started their war against India in 1989 conservative estimates say that 39,500 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have been displaced.

This is simply unacceptable.

Last week I had the chance to meet with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and discuss this issue. He had little reassurances to offer in this area. Even when I met with General Musharaff last July he continued to say he is living up to his pledge to President Bush in July of 2002. I think it is plain to see that Musharaff has not stopped support of cross border terrorism or ceased support of terrorist activities in the region of Jammu-Kashmir.
In fact these attacks have been steadily increasing. The latest reports I have seen state that roughly 4000 Islamic terrorists are camped in the Pakistani controlled region of Kashmir and a significant number are poised to strike targets inside India.

The Bush administration must tell Pakistan to stop these terrorist attacks or risk loosing the $3 billion of aid it receives from this country. I firmly believe that conditions must be placed on this $3 billion assistance package to ensure that real progress is made on stopping not only terrorist infiltration across the line of control but also ceasing all Pakistani proliferation activities.

The United States must do more to assist India in its own war against terrorism. India is a natural ally to the United States. They are the largest democracy while we are the oldest. The United States and India are forming closer military to military ties. And I applaud that. The United States and India participated in joint airlift operations marking the first-ever air force-to-air force exercises and numerous other joint air and naval exercises are planned for the near future. The United States has also agreed to allow India to purchase the airborne Phalcon early warning radar systems from Israel. It is the hope that the United States will approve the sale of the defensive PAC-3 missile system to India, as well.

India has worked with the United States in Afghanistan and has pledged its full commitment to our war on terrorism. I am a firm believer that when the United Nations Security Council backs the role and objective of our government in re-building and stabilizing Iraq, that India will be among the first of our allies to offer assistance.

India's long-term economic potential is tremendous, and recent strides in the technology sector have focused our attention to such high-tech centers as Bangalore and Hyderabad. The Indian success story must not be viewed by Americans as something to be fearful of, but as something to embrace. A country of 1 billion people, pro-democrat, pro-American, with a multi-faceted level of trade and political ties with the United States.

Business and technology deals create an ever-growing web of economic interdependence. Economic interdependence is the key for a healthy relationship, it is mutually beneficial, and it is good for both the U.S. and India. Economic growth, through engaging all of the nations of South Asian, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka will bring about regional cooperation and stability.

In addition to wearing the hat of Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I am also the founder and Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh. In my district in New York City, there has been explosive growth of the Bangladeshi community in the last ten years. These hardworking people have moved to America, like immigrants before them, to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Bangladesh is a country that is not well understood by the majority of Americans including my colleagues in Congress. Many still remember, the tumultuous founding of Bangladesh in the war of Independence or visions of the dire floods and famines that Bangladesh experienced in its early years of nationhood. What they don't see or hear is that of a burgeoning economy that is a nascent and functioning democracy.

After years of military rule, Bangladesh has carried out a series of Democratic elections and has elected two women as Prime Minister. We have to remember that Bangladesh was founded as a secular state, founded on a regional identity, Bengali, both Muslim and Hindu, not on a religious identity. Throughout the history of this nation, the United States, has not played an active role in promoting the secular values which is the foundation of the country, and of its neighbor India, and has instead allowed a vacuum to be created which has opened up the doors to funding educational and religious institutions with right wing Saudi money. Instead of giving Bangladesh the attention it deserves as a moderate Muslim nation, in a strategic area of the world, our policy of benign neglect in favor of Pakistan, has opened the door to extremism taking hold in civic and political society in Bangladesh.

A regional issue I have been championing in Congress is the Asian University for Women (AUW) which will be located in Bangladesh. AUW will be a world class, liberal arts college that will attract and educate intelligent and talented young women from diverse backgrounds throughout Asia and the Middle East. This project will contribute to our global fight against terrorism.

The September 11th attacks altered the way we perceive the world, and the way the world views the United States. We have identified regimes that support terrorism and those who fail to respect the fundamental rights of its people, all to the detriment of the entire region. But we need to remind ourselves that this war against terrorism is not limited to the battlefield. Instead, we must fight this war in the classroom, too. AUW will teach democratic essentials such as moderation and reconciliation, key weapons against extremism and intolerance.

I have been successful so far in providing funding to start this new university. Through appropriations I was able to secure $1 million for the 2003 fiscal year and positive report language for the 2004 fiscal year. This funding is going through the United States Agency for International Development. I have had several good meetings with the mission director of USAID in Bangladesh about how we ensure that this university succeeds. I look forward to continuing my work and hopefully see some progress when I travel to Bangladesh this January.

Another area I would like to discuss is the military junta in Burma and the harm that they are doing to not only the Burmese but to the region. Congress was able to pass an important piece of legislation, the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, over the summer, in response to the brutal crackdown on Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy.

The Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act took effect on August 28th and I hope will force the ruling junta to fully realize what a free and open society has to offer the people of Burma. The United States cannot stand alone on this issue and I would encourage all nations especially Burma's neighbors to enact similar laws to put the necessary pressure on the ruling junta. All of Burma's neighbors need to put pressure on the Generals to really install true democracy instead of just taking about it.

A real timeline is needed for this so called seven steps to democracy road map. I am not satisfied with promises and believe not words but actions need to be taken. A free and democratic Burma needs to be established now.

As you can see South Asia has the potential to become a stable and economically vital region. I hope that the continued engagement by the United States will help South Asia thrive in the future.

Thank you and I look forward to any questions you may have.